Welcome to an 'inch of difference'.
"This inch in which we live." Richard Neville, Oz, 1971.

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

PMQs: Summary & Videos

A bit late this week, sorry. One minute I'm tuning into Andrew Neil and the next I'm dreaming fitfully of British pensioners burning EU flags to keep warm. Still, here it is - The Fresh From His Triumph edition - aided by the miracle of BBC iPlayer:

Cameron opened the proceedings by paying tribute to Kingsman David Robert Shaw, 1st Btn Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who died of wounds sustained in Afghanistan.
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Miliband asked, if Cameron got 'his in/out referendum', would he campaign for Britain to stay in? Cameron said he would. Miliband wasn't happy and re-phrased his question: 'Is he saying that if he doesn't achieve his negotiation strategy he will recommend Britain leave the EU?'

Cameron didn't actually answer directly but instead congratulated him on tacitly accepting that the Conservatives will win the next GE and he went on to mention that unemployment figures had fallen with employment up by 90,000 this quarter and rate of job growth last year was fastest since 1989. He then repeated that he wanted to see 'a strong Britain in a reformed Europe'; the govt 'wants to reset the relationship'.

He asked what Miliband, who used all his six questions on the EU, would do. Miliband pushed and pushed, the House grew noisier, Bercow intervened and Cameron became exasperated. When the pressure was directed back at Miliband he finally blurted out: "My position is no, we don't want an in/out referendum," at which the House dissolved into laughter, jeers and abuse.

Stand-out quote from Cameron: "We also want to make sure that 'ever closer union' doesn't apply to the United Kingdom."

Terrorism & the Armed Forces; Holocaust Memorial Day & education; Save the Children & the aid budget; UK car industry and the EU; The forthcoming G8 & the aid budget; a government-funded energy efficiency scheme; employment in his constituency (R&SE) particularly as it relates to women; 12% cut in local govt funding to Preston; other members of the EU, particularly in the eurozone, also want re-negotiation; timing disparity between Scottish referendum & EU referendum; DCLG savings & 'troubled' families; child poverty in Britain & the re-definition of poverty; restrictive practices by mortgage companies when outsourcing conveyancing work; cuts in defence spending & the Strategic Defence Review; 'Cons trust the people, Labour want to deny them their say'; black-listing, police & security services; EU has a habit of going its own way so what will he do if re-negotiation request is ignored; austerity-riddled Britain, wining & dining, Davos, bankers, tax-avoiders, posh boys (it's Skinner so you get the picture); Conservative govt = an EU referendum, Labour govt = no EU referendum; disabilities/benefits cuts; a suggestion that Heseltine conducts an Inquiry into consequences of Britain leaving the EU; welfare cuts, energy bills; public health & locally-directed govt funds; food banks; the British Transplant Games & organ donation; lack of places in special needs schools; Pitt the Younger: 'England would save Europe by her example'.

* Two choice screen-grabs of Julie Hilling in full flow, just because:

Hilling put so much drama, energy and passion into her brief question about disability living allowance, it's a shame she began from a false premise.

Hammy died; Sammy passed away from malnutrition; Suki was resurrected. Lucky ran away. Here's Lucky's brother, Chucky:"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? Click my wheel to feed me.

"Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away;Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air.You'd better watch out!There may be dogs aboutI looked over Jordan, and I've seenThings are not what they seem.

That's what you get for pretending the danger's not real.Meek and obedient you follow the leaderDown well trodden corridors into the valley of steel.What a surprise!A look of terminal shock in your eyes.Now things are really what they seem.No, this is not a bad dream.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not wantHe makes me down to lieThrough pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by.With bright knives He releaseth my soul.He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.He converteth me to lamb cutlets,For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.When cometh the day we lowly ones,Through quiet reflection, and great dedicationMaster the art of Judo,Lo, we shall rise up,And then we'll make the bugger's eyes water.

Bleating and babbling we fell on his neck with a scream.Wave upon wave of demented avengersMarch cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Have you heard the news?The dogs are dead!You better stay homeAnd do as you're told.Get out of the road if you want to grow old."

Reform and revolutionary change that is undertaken without the explicit consent of the people, can only be maintained through force and repression.